Artist description Shannon Janssen began playing a small electric organ when she was very young. She has very few memories of it, but her parents remember Shannon making up tunes at a very early age. When she was eight, formal piano lessons began. Her piano teacher was very strict, only allowing Shannon to play classical pieces. She would practice the lessons her teacher would give her and then spend additional time at the piano learning pop songs and working her own compositions. At age fifteen, she shared one of her compositions with her piano teacher, who thought it was so good, she had Shannon perform it at the next piano recital. Shannon continued lessons through high school, then studied piano with a passionate pursuit that led her through the years. She has been a church pianist for 20 years, has taught private lessons for twelve years, and now plays for Von Maur Department stores, Collins Plaza Hotel, for parties and special events. Heart Journey is her debut album, Piano Paintings is her new release. Music is her passion, and her style is unique. Her music would be categorized as Contemporary Classical or Romantic New Age. She plays with such feeling and emotion, her melodies will take your heart on a journey............................................................................................................................ "I like music that is touching and soul stirring, that makes you stop to ponder, taking you to another place. This kind of music can be in many categories. But instrumental music without words, allows the listener to use their imagination to tell the story or to paint the picture within the song. The only clue is the title...you decide how the story goes and ends. It's like reading a book verses watching a movie. Your imagination paints the scene and characters, thus allowing the music to take you on a journey. It has always been my desire and dream to create music such as this."

Similar Artists People have compared her to David Lanz, Jim Brickman, George Winston and Lorie Line.

Instruments Piano

Albums Heart Journey, Piano Paintings

Press Reviews If you are looking for a piece of heaven right here on earth you can start with Shannon Janssen and her CD "Heart Journey." The title of the recording is very fitting. Her music comes flowing from her heart to her hands and then to the keys of the piano in one magical transfer of divinity. Any time I ever hear soothing spiritual music like this the entire world takes a back seat and I am able to breathe a sigh of relief and appreciate the day that has been given me. I honestly believe that each day is a gift full of gifts; we just have to stop to see them and enjoy them. I am guilty of not doing that on a regular basis. Music is such a beautiful way to mirror our thoughts, emotions, and the spiritual nature of our God given souls. I am thankful for artists such as Shannon that do not need vocals to accompany their music. The music is enough to pass on their message. Her message helped me to refocus and ground myself. If you enjoy new age spiritually based instrumental piano music, it doesn't get much better than this. Shannon Janssen is a blessed woman. She has been given the gift of purity from a place in the heart. Yes it is a journey, and one will you want to take more than once. Pick up this CD and you find peace in the music and calmness in your soul. Let the music lead the way. © Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck March 24, 2002 All-Reviews.com Rating............................................................................................................................. "Heart Journey" is pianist Shannon Janssen's debut CD, and what a promising debut it is! Her twelve original compositions are full of life and emotion. While most of the pieces are quiet and thoughtful, there is a wonderful passion running through all of them. Janssen's piano is accompanied by subtle and tasteful orchestrations composed and performed by Mark Pence. There are many CDs where I wish the accompaniments had been left out, but these enhancements are outstanding on every track. A church pianist and piano teacher for many years, Ms Janssen also plays regularly for a local department store and hotel. In the business settings, I'm sure her playing is required to be of a more background nature, as these pieces would cause shoppers and party-goers to gather around the piano for more, more, more! All of the tracks on "Heart Journey" are excellent. Several of the pieces are light and airy, and others are darker and deeper. My favorite is "Moonlight Mist", a moody and passionate piece about misty shadows cast over the landscape by a full moon. Bigger than most of the other pieces on the CD, this is one that makes my fingers itch - I want to play it! The dark and mysterious qualities of this composition make it a real stand-out. "Longing" is another real beauty. The aching feeling of the simple melody goes right to the heart. "Seaside Nocturne" beautifully describes the peaceful ocean in the moonlight - dark, sparkling, and breathtaking. "Shadows of a Forgotten Dream" is almost a swirling dance - peaceful and quiet while gradually building energy to a burst of exhilaration, and then winding down only to begin building the next energetic burst; the ending is nostalgic and melancholy. Shannon Janssen is a wonderfully expressive pianist/composer, and "Heart Journey" is a CD I highly recommend. Parts of the CD remind me of Suzanne Ciani and Kevin Kern, so if you like those artists, I think you'll like this album a lot. Listening samples are available at www.heartjourney.net. By Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications

Location Cedar Rapids, Iowa - USA

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